Trends in Opioid Prescribing by Race/Ethnicity for Patients Seeking Care in US Emergency Departments

TLDR

Emergency department visits are high‑risk encounters for pain management, yet a persistent public health problem exists in the United States, with national attention in the 1990s and quality initiatives by JCAHO and the Veterans Health Administration highlighting disparities in opioid prescribing and pain treatment. The study confirms that racial and ethnic minority patients are disproportionately at risk of receiving inadequate pain treatment and lower opioid prescribing in emergency departments, consistent with prior NHAMCS analyses.

Abstract

jor public health problem in the United States 1 and a particular problem in emergency departments. 2Patients usually present to the emergency department when other medical help is not accessible or when symptoms, often including pain, are most severe.Emergency department visits therefore represent high-risk encounters in which assessment and treatment of pain should receive careful attention. 2acial and ethnic minority groups appear to be at particularly high risk of receiving inadequate treatment for pain in the emergency department.][8][9][10] Previous studies of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS), a survey of US emergency department visits, have found national racial/ethnic differences in opioid prescribing for back pain and migraine (1997-1999) 6 and in provision of sedation for children with long-bone fractures (1992-1998). [8][9][10] Previous studies of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS), a survey of US emergency department visits, have found national racial/ethnic differences in opioid prescribing for back pain and migraine (1997-1999) 6 and in provision of sedation for children with long-bone fractures (1992-1998). 11 In the 1990s, national attention focused on increasing awareness of the problem of inadequately treated pain. 1 Major campaigns undertaken by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations ( JCAHO) 12 and the Veterans Health Administration 13 introduced standards for consistent monitoring and treatment of pain that have become important quality in-See also p 89 and Patient Page.